What’s the Best Organic Coffee?
Complete Guide to Certification

The best organic coffee beans are found where great flavor, good environmental practices, and fair working conditions collide. And there couldn’t be a better time to shop organic coffee brands with some incredible options offering everything from light to dark roasts, whole beans to ground, and even pods.

As the fourth wave coffee movement takes hold, more people are prioritizing environmental protection when buying coffee beans. If that includes you, “Organic” is likely a seal of approval that you look for. Unlike some other labels, it’s more than just marketing mumbo-jumbo.

As a former barista who’s spent years traveling and visiting coffee farms around the world, I’ve seen firsthand the requirements placed on farmers to get that coveted USDA Organic label. So after the good stuff – my tried, tested, and adored organic coffee brands – I’ll also explain what organic farming does for flavor and the bigger impact.

So, to help you choose, we’ve tasted a LOT of coffees from across the world to put together this barista-approved list of organic coffee recommendations (it’s me, I’m the barista.).

We recommend always starting with whole beans and grinding them yourself but I appreciate that’s not realistic for everyone. So everything on this list is also available pre-ground.

Depending on your preferred type of coffee maker, some of these beans will be better suited to you than others. So I’ve also indicated which brewing method each pick is best for.

Overall Best Organic Coffee: Spirit Animal, Bourbon

Spirit Animal does one thing and does it really well: sell superb Honduran micro-lot coffees.

They focus on only the best 1% of Arabica organic coffee beans, sourced from their Rainforest Alliance Certified organic coffee farms. They are then roasted at source in Honduras to maximize the income directly to the farmers – a phenomenal move as more than 50% of the population lives in poverty. Plus, their fast shipping methods mean the beans arrive with you still fresh.

They excel where it matters most – flavor.

We adore their full range of organic coffees but the Bourbon comes out on top (for us, at least!) Oh, and the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) who gave it a cup score of 89/100. The flavors of hazelnuts, cacao, and tropical fruit are abundant with a deep richness that’s a little addictive.

For the best results, we recommend brewing in a Hario V60 or Chemex to pull out the more delicate notes. But, for something a little different, we also love brewing this coffee for French press.

Best Organic Light Roast: Tiny Footprint, Signature Blend

What makes organic coffee even better for the environment? How about organic coffee beans that are also carbon-negative?

For every pound of coffee sold, trees are planted in the Mindo Cloud Forest, Ecuador which will remove 54 lbs of CO2 from the atmosphere. The trees also provide a habitat for wildlife, increasing biodiversity in one of the world’s most important forests.

All that ecological goodness leaves a pretty good taste in my mouth. And, when you’re done, just remove the label and the paper coffee bags are 100% compostable too.

This blend utilizes coffee from all over the globe to give a rich and balanced cup of coffee. The light roast profile means that the bright citrus flavors of the beans are accentuated with mellow chocolate and nut notes on the finish, which I love for pour-overs. However, if you prefer your coffee a little more roasted, the signature blend also comes in medium, dark, and espresso roasts.

Best Medium-Light: Equator Coffees, Sumatra Queen Ketiara

Equator Coffees sources these coffee beans from Ketiara, a cooperative located in the Gayo Highlands of Sumatra. It is led by Rahmah, an incredible woman who has grown the co-op from 38 members in 2009 to over 2,000 (of which over 50% are women.)

This particular coffee is bought exclusively from the women members, giving it the special name, “Queen Ketiara”. A premium is paid for the “Queen” designation but this extra money goes to projects that benefit women in the region.

The Sumatran organic coffee beans are wet-hulled processed (Giling Basah) – a process unique to Indonesia. The result is a distinctive coffee flavor profile that’s fuller-bodied with intense earthy, woody, spicy notes. The acidity is also lowered so it has a softer feel on the palate.

The Queen Ketiara beans show off notes of chocolate, vanilla, orange, tobacco, and clove. With a full body and gentle acidity, the resulting brew is very punchy whilst still being light.

If you’re put off by the idea of ‘tobacco’ or ‘earthy’ flavors, please don’t be. My mum was the same until I used them to make her an espresso. She loved the light, unique flavors so much that I caught her trying to sneak the bag of beans home with her!

Best Medium Roast: Stumptown, Holler Mountain

Stumptown Coffee Roasters have been in the roasting game since 1999 and their Holler Mountain blend has been with them from the start. So they kinda know what they’re doing when it comes to this delicious organic coffee blend.

The combination of flavors from around the world results in a full-bodied cup of joe bursting with flavor. You get the chocolatey tones from Central and Southern America alongside the brightness of East African coffees. And, by blending, they can ensure a consistent flavor profile year after year that’s unaffected by good or bad harvests (a very real issue when pesticides are off the table.)

Overall, you get a complex, creamy cup of coffee that works well with any brew method. That said, we love pulling espressos with Holler Mountain to bring out the citrus bursts alongside the creamy caramel and hazelnut notes.

Best Medium-Dark Coffee: Java Planet, Colombian Organic Coffees

I struggled to pick a favorite from Java Planet organic coffee roasters as they put their commitment to the environment as a top priority, without compromising on flavor. So, at the very least, all their coffees have the USDA Organic seal of approval.

Plus, the majority (like this Colombia Organic one) are also Rainforest Alliance and Smithsonian Bird-Friendly Certified. This last label is lesser known but is probably the best marker of ethically grown coffee. (Read all about the different labels/terms, here).

This is a blend of beans from across Colombia. Due to the diverse topography of the country, the flavors are equally diverse. Having been expertly blended and lower in acidity, you get bold fruity notes that taste sweet and rich. The fuller body makes it well-suited to espresso or even a regular drip coffee maker.

Best Dark Roast Organic Coffee: Kicking Horse, Kick Ass

Kicking Horse Coffee is a bit of a cult sensation. And with good reason: 

They specialize in top-quality blends, using only the best Arabica organic coffee beans sourced from around the world. All of the beans used have received both Fair Trade and Organic Certifications. 

For their Kick Ass coffee, they use a blend of Indonesian and South American coffee beans. The result is a full-throated coffee roar on the palate that will get you up and going, ready to kick ass for the day. 

It’s an interesting combo of the woody, spicy tones of Indonesian beans with the bold fruity sweetness of the South American ones. Plus, there’s a hint of smoke from the darker roast.

If you like big, bold coffee and generally drink espresso or espresso-based drinks, this is a superb option. The pressure from espresso brewing draws out the complex flavors of sweet fruit, chocolate, tobacco, molasses, and smokiness, all finished with caramelized notes. If you prefer subtle, light flavors, this isn’t the one for you.

Best Range: Volcanica, Organic Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee

I’m a big fan of all things Volcanica and their extensive range makes them the best organic coffee brand out there. But I wanted to showcase this one as it’s pretty special, coming from the birthplace of coffee and (in my humble opinion), one of the most exciting coffee regions on the planet.

If you’ve never tried Ethiopian coffee before, these beans from Yirgacheffe will rock your next organic coffee fix thanks to the diversity of flavors.

Coffees from the southern Ethiopian region of Yirgacheffe are famed for their intensely floral and fruity flavors with a bewitching complexity and almost wine-like feel on the palate. Once you’ve tasted coffee from here, you’ll find it hard to walk away.

Those great flavors are bursting through in Volcanica’s Yirgacheffe organic coffee. Alongside a refreshing acidity, there are notes of lemon and berries with a floral aroma. The medium/light roasting allows you to fully experience the taste of this unique growing region. When I’m making Chemex, these beans are my go-to.

Best for Low Acidity: Lifeboost Organic, Dark Roast Coffee

Lifeboost Coffee’s website is awash with customer testimonials waxing lyrical about their great-tasting coffee. Plus, there’s plenty of information about the health benefits and why they sell the best organic coffee beans.

Don’t let the slightly spammy feel put you off though because, once you sift through it, you’ll discover a range of really high-quality low-acid organic coffee beans. They’re also tested by a third party to ensure they’re mold and mycotoxin-free.

Whilst dark roasts aren’t usually my go-to (they can be a little too ‘roasty’ for me), I like this one as the reduced acidity makes it more balanced. The fruit notes have a sweet and tropical feeling that’s typical of the best Nicaraguan coffees. This pairs perfectly with the lighter body and flavors of smooth chocolate and nuts on the finish.

If you prefer a gentler brew, this is an indulgent choice of beans for cold brew or French press. They stand up on their own or mixed with milk.

Hidden Gem: Out of the Grey, Peruvian Specialty Coffee

Lesser known in most coffee circles, Peruvian coffee is a bit of a hidden gem.

But when you’re hunting out the best organic options, it’s a country that should be on your radar as most of the world’s organic coffee is grown in Peru. So, the required standards and farming practices are well ingrained in their coffee-growing culture.  

These beans from Out of the Grey go one step further with their Bird-Friendly Certified coffee. The Smithsonian Institute developed this certification as a combined commitment towards environmental protection and ethical labor practices.

Grown in the foothills of the Andes, between the cities of Chiclayo and Cajamarca in northern Peru, this coffee is very similar in style to many great Colombian coffees. It has flavors of rich sweet fruit, molasses, and almonds with a touch of floral for good measure. The fresher acidity gives a more refreshing, crisp finish which we adore for French press or pour over.

Biggest Caffeine Hit: Death Wish, World’s Strongest Coffee

Blends containing Robusta aren’t something you often see recommended here at Home Coffee Expert. But, for the insanely popular, punchy Death Wish Coffee, it’s worth making an exception. Don’t get us wrong, we have nothing against Robusta coffee, it just rarely offers the same complexity as Arabica coffee beans. 

Marketed as The World’s Strongest Coffee, the Arabica/Robusta blend yields an intense cup of joe that really hits you in all your senses.

Being Organic and Fair Trade certified, you can have the big caffeine hit you need and still feel good about how it was grown and purchased. The aim is to bring out the bold dark fruit flavors as well as the chocolate, nuts, and smoke that come with a darker roast.

If you’re a fan of really strong, bold cups of coffee, this is definitely one you need to try. By brewing in a French press or AeroPress you have control over the extraction making both a great way to taste the nuanced (but not subtle) flavors. Although we wouldn’t say no to a Death Wish espresso either.

If you’re worried that the big, bold flavors from the highly caffeinated organic coffee beans will be too much for you, Death Wish offers a no-questions-asked, money-back guarantee. So you’ve got nothing to lose.

Plus, you can choose between whole beans, grounds, or coffee pods.

You can browse their complete range and know you’re never compromising on the environment (or on flavor) with any of these specialists.

Whilst this is by no means an exhaustive list and there are certainly other organic coffee brands out there, the following sell a number of great options for you to choose from. So you are spoiled for choice:

• Lifeboost: Positioned as one of the healthiest organic coffee brands, Lifeboost focuses on low-acid, mycotoxin-free coffee that’s easy on the stomach. It’s good for your health and the health of the environment.
• Spirit Animal: We are OBSESSED with this brand and truly believe they sell the best organic specialty coffee currently available. They work directly with small-scale farmers so they can guarantee the growing practices. But they stand out by roasting at source to keep the money within Honduras. It is then air-shipped directly to you for maximum fresh deliciousness.
• Kicking Horse: They have a great range of delicious (and quirkily named) coffees that are 100% certified organic. They are audited annually by ECOCERT to ensure no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers sneak in there. Plus they’re the largest Fairtrade coffee roasters in Canada.
• Jo Coffee: Amazon might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of buying specialty coffee, but that’s where you’ll find Jo. They launched in 2013 to give coffee lovers an easy way to make their Fair Trade and certified Organic purchases.
• Death Wish Coffee: Boasting the “World’s Strongest Coffee”, you are guaranteed only fully caffeinated organic coffees here. They’re known for their distinctive strong, bold dark roast coffee flavor so they’re not for the faint-hearted.
• Java Planet: It’s in the name – all their coffees are 100% certified organic. Whilst the packaging may be a little garish, we can’t fault what’s inside the bag. Whether you shop their single-origin organic coffees or opt for one of their flavored offerings, you won’t be disappointed. 

Brands With Many Organic Options

Many organic coffee brands don’t hold certification for every bag of coffee in their range. This is because they source from all over the world where farmers come under different challenges on a day-to-day basis and are often priced out of official certification.

But don’t overlook them.

Some of our favorite coffee roasters have great organically grown, but not certified, coffee options. Great examples of this are:

• Equator Coffees who we have never had a bad bag of coffee beans from. Their core range is superb but keep an eye on them as they frequently stock phenomenal low-quantity micro-lot coffees.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters – Portland-based and renowned for their high-quality specialty coffee selection.
• Volcanica Coffee – Not all of their coffees have official certification but they do have one of the most extensive ranges of organic coffee you can find. And they’re working hard to extend this.

Unfortunately, it’s a little more in-depth than that. It includes everything from how the crops are grown, how the coffee is handled, all the way up to the packaging used.

This is how the USDA defines organically grown coffee (and other foodstuffs):

Organic is a labeling term found on products that have been produced using cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that support the cycling of on-farm resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.

USDA

So, let’s break that down:

Organic coffee farmers must rely on natural substances (not synthetic) and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods as far as possible. For example, this could include swapping out phosphate fertilizer for chicken manure.

To label coffee as Organic or use the USDA Organic coffee seal in the US, it must undergo strict production, handling, and labeling standards. The standards cover a variety of things from soil quality to fertilizers and pest control. Synthetic fertilizers, certain pesticides, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering are all prohibited.

There is a time element too. All organic produce, including coffee, must be grown on soil that has had no prohibited substances used on it in the last 3 years.

Plus, the environment used for processing and packaging the coffee must also be free from all chemicals. This means, for example, that the coffee roaster must never have held non-organic coffee.

So, when you see the organic label on your coffee beans, you know it has been carefully handled all the way from the farm to your cup.

Organic Coffee Labeling

There are 5 different organic labels you may see on products like coffee:

• 100% Organic
• Organic
• Regenerative Organic
• Made with Organic Ingredients
• Specific Organic Ingredients

Confused? It’s a head-scratcher so hopefully this will help:

100% Organic – The simplest and most obvious of all the labels. In this case, the product must be made up of 100% organic ingredients and the label must also have the name of the certifying agent. So, it may say “100% Organic” or it might have the USDA Organic seal.

Organic – This is where it gets a bit complex: Labels that simply say “Organic” are allowed up to 5% of the item to be produced using substances on the “allowed” non-organic list (excluding salt and water). Again the name of the certifying agent must be present on the label and the USDA seal can be used.

Regenerative Organic – This label is relatively new and shows additional practices over and above the standard USDA organic certification. It requires additional farming/labor practices that protect the soil and also ensure its regenerative, long-term health.

Made with Organic – This label rarely applies to coffee, though it is possible with some coffee blends. In this case, at least 70% of the ingredients must be certified organic and be overseen by a certified agent.

Specific Organic Ingredients – Any product that is not overseen by a certified agent can only list organic products in the ingredients list, along with the percentages of said products. This one isn’t really relevant for coffee but it’s always worth knowing exactly what you’re buying.

Are Organic Standards Global?

Each country or region has its own organic standards and certifications. For example, China, Japan, Europe, and the UK all have their own agencies with their own rules separate from the USDA. But, whilst their rules are different, they do have some similarities: 

Generally speaking, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are not allowed. Nor can they use genetically modified crops.

To make things more complex for the coffee farmers, if they sell their organic coffee beans to multiple markets, they need to be certified organic by the various agencies. And the price for this quickly adds up. The cost and complex paperwork are often the nails in the coffin that prevent farmers from getting official certification despite only using organic farming practices.

Alternative Coffee Certification

Having organically grown and certified coffee is great. But it doesn’t ensure that your coffee is grown ethically, only that best practices are followed regarding using chemicals. There are no checks on workers’ wages, protection of the rainforest, or wildlife in the area.

Luckily, that’s where a host of other certification bodies step in:

For the protection of the hard-working coffee farmers and their wider communities, organizations/ practices like Fair Trade (US), Fairtrade (international), and Direct Trade step in.

Bird-Friendly certification is a lesser-known seal of approval from the Smithsonian. As the name implies, bird habitats are protected thanks to strict shade-grown standards. It also ensures organic farming for a double tick of goodness.

Rainforest Alliance Certification steps in as the middleman between protecting both the environment and the people. Here, there are strict ecological and environmental standards to be followed, plus a commitment to the coffee farmers and their communities.

Whilst there are plenty of ethical coffee standards out there, not all of them are legally defined. So, if you want to get to grips with the terms used on your coffee labels, head over to our Complete Guide to Ethical Coffee.

No matter what coffee beans you choose, the flavor will be impacted by a number of elements. There’s the production method, growing conditions and region, processing, roasting, and even the packaging. 

So, despite organic coffee beans being grown under better conditions, we can’t categorically say they taste better. The reason is that being non-organic is a sliding scale rather than an absolute.

For example, a coffee farm may do everything to the highest organic standards but their coffee doesn’t have the certification. Sadly, the reason is almost always down to money like in the following scenarios: 

1. If the coffee farmer is living hand to mouth (as is often the case), they need flexibility if something goes wrong. This means having the wiggle room to use some non-organic products if it saves their harvest. 
2. To get organically certified, coffee farmers need to pay. And it doesn’t come cheap. So, for many, the barriers to entry are just too high. 
3. Coffee is a commodity that is well sought after by worldwide consumers. But, if the extra income from selling certified organic coffee doesn’t cover the certification costs, then there’s little benefit to the farmers. 

All this means that there are countless farms producing some of the absolute best organic coffee beans. But you won’t find an organic label on any of their bags of coffee. 

So, as a coffee lover, it’s important to do a little digging. Only buy from companies you trust and that have transparent supply chains. Look for organic certification but don’t dismiss a coffee offhand if it’s not there. Remember, just because the USDA Organic seal is missing doesn’t mean your coffee is full of nasty chemicals.

Sadly not.

For many coffee farmers, the process of getting certified and then maintaining it is too expensive. 

They have to create an “organic system plan” that covers all aspects of growing coffee from tilling the soil to transporting the beans. This plan must also include how they will keep non-organic substances away from their soil, which is tricky if they are near a non-organic farm as winds can blow over trace elements.

Organic certification also isn’t a “one and done” deal. The farms are inspected annually to ensure the required standards are continuously met. All of this comes with a price tag. So the beans need to be sold at a premium to ensure wages are paid and a profit is still made.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t pay close attention to how your coffee is grown and sourced, or check for the USDA Organic label. You absolutely should: it’s a great way to ensure your coffee isn’t damaging the environment or using any nasty chemicals. 

But, if you have time, take a further look. Check for other coffee certifications and labels, where the beans were bought, and who profits the most. Sadly, buying organic doesn’t guarantee the farmers and workers receive fair wages or that the coffee-growing communities are supported.

Specialty coffee producers are a good place to start. Usually, premium coffee brands stock exclusively or, at least, predominantly organic coffee beans. So a quick search on their ‘about’ page should shed some light on their ethics and growing practices. 

With organic coffee becoming more and more mainstream, there is more and more choice out there too. Which is great. But it also means there is more variability between the great and the not-so-good. Luckily, all the best organic coffees listed here not only deliver on environmental protection but also on taste. After all, good coffee is what it’s all about.

Matt Woodburn-Simmonds

Matt's coffee obsession started in 2006 when working as a Barista. A tendency to turn up to work hungover kickstarted his coffee journey which quickly turned into a love affair. As he moved on to work as a Restaurant Manager and Sommelier, the obsession continued to grow. Now, his passion is helping others to enjoy better coffee at home.